5 Best Foodie Spots on L'Ile d'Orleans | Canada

food stops on L'Ile d'Orleans. — Overlooking the St. Lawrence River, stroll through a vineyard on L’Ile d’Orleans. Photo Credit: Catherine Parker

Tops for lovers wanting a European getaway without the red-eye flight, Quebec City offers a long weekend of eating and exploring. Though don’t let L’Ile d’Orleans escape your foodie itinerary. About 30 minutes east of Quebec City, I found a foodie destination packed with a vineyard and a jam and jelly purveyor. Read on for the 5 Best Foodie Spots on L’Ile d’Orleans.

Table of Contents

5 Best Foodie Spots on L’Ile d’Orleans

Pont de L’Ile d’Orleans
Vignoble Ste-Patronille
Le Delices de l’Ile d’Orleans
Montmorency Falls
Basilica of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupre

The view from the Port de L’Ile d’Orleans Suspension Bridge over the St. Lawrence River. Photo Credit: Catherine Parker

Pont de l’Ile d’Orleans

Get to the best foodie spots on L’Ile d’Orleans by crossing thePont de l’Ile d’Orleans. Built in 1935, it’s the last suspension bridge across theSt. Lawrence River headed east. L’Ile d’Orleans offers a day trip destination just minutes outside of Old Quebec with vineyards and tasting rooms.

Foodie stops on L'Ile d'Orléans. — Overlooking the St. Lawrence River, the Vignoble Ste-Patronille offers a tour and tasting room. Photo Credit: Catherine Parker

Sample at Vignoble Ste-Patronille

Our first stop isVignoble Ste-Patronille, a vineyard and winery overlooking the Montmorency Falls on L’Ile d’Orleans. There we take the vineyard tour and learn about the grapes that can survive the brutal Canadian winters, primarily white wine grapes. After the tour, we head to the tasting room to sample wine.

If you need a snack, find the Panache Mobile food truck with an attached terrace overlooking the vineyard and the St. Lawrence. It’s a spectacular location to enjoy the day.

FindVignoble Ste-Patronille at 8705 Chemin Royal. Open daily mid-April through mid-December, and everyday during the summer.

Foodie Delights at Le Delices de l’Ile d’Orleans

Our next stop,le Delices de l’Ile d’Orleansis another jewel with a private tasting room and a guided tour. Since 1998 they’ve made jams, jellies, mustards, vinegar and syrups. After our tasting, we loaded up on some items that you don’t see back in the U.S., like carrot confit and terrines.

Find Le Delices de l’Ile d’Orleansat 1735 Chemin Royal.

Visit the Montmorency Falls and walk across the falls taller than Niagara. Photo Credit: Catherine Parker

Hike at Montmorency Falls

After sampling for couple of hours, time to walk it off so head over to the Montmorency Falls for a tour. I recommend taking the scenic route and taking the cable car to the suspension bridge and restaurant. Though stairs are available.

After exiting the cable car, walk across the suspension bridge to experience the power of the falls that are almost 100 feet taller than Niagara Falls. Take a few minutes and walk through the gardens around the Manoir Montmorency.

After hiking around the falls it’s time for lunch so dine at theManoir Montmorency, open throughthe summer season from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Find an upscale menu, featuring duck confit, poutines, salmon and tenderloin.

Foodie stops on L'Ile d'Orleans. — Visit the Manoir de Montmorency for an upscale lunch. Photo Credit: Catherine Parker

For families, find a dairy bar and three different playgrounds on site as well as two bike paths.

Find Montmorency Falls at 2490 Ave Royale and open 8:30 a.m to 7:30 during the summer months. Cable cars tickets are $14.35 CAN for adults and $7.18 CAN for kids 6 to 17 with kids under 6 free. Paid parking.

Basilica of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupre

TheBasilica of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupreanchors its namesake village 20 minutes east of Old Quebec on the St. Lawrence River. Nestled in the foothills of the Laurentian Mountains, it’s known as a shrine for miracles with over half-a-million visitors each year.

The basilica’s history started in 1658 when a farmer donated two acres for a chapel. When a worker was cured of his ailment, the legend began. On the inside of the basilica, find crutches and walkers attached the pillars as a testament of its healing powers.

5 Best Foodie Spots on L'Ile d'Orleans — The ornate ceiling of the Basilica of Sainte-Anne-de Beaupre, completed in 1946. Photo Credit: Catherine Parker

Completed in 1946, construction stopped for the Depression and WWII. The interior of the basilica is incredibly light, not the usual dark, somber interior that most of the cathedrals have across Europe.

Head downstairs to theImmaculate Conception Chapelwhere the walls are decorated with delightful tiny mosaics of flowers and animals. As a popular shrine, the chapel is full of candles lit by the faithful.

Delightful little mosaics dot the top of the pillars, depicting scenes from nature. Isle d'Orleans — Delightful mosaics dot the top of the pillars.. Photo Credit: Catherine Parker

Find Basilica of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupre at 10018 Chemin Royale. Open every day from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and free to enter though donations are accepted.

After exploring L’Ile d’Orleans and the Basilica, time to head back to Old Town. Quebec City has all the history, culture and great food of France without theblow-smoke-in-your-face attitudeor the transatlantic flight. The French-Canadians love to share their jewel of a city with Americans. It’s my go-to destination for a couple’s weekend away or introducing your own carful of kids to international travel.